I am running the Paris marathon this April to raise money for a really good cause, which is to clean and maintain one of the holiest rivers in India, the Yamuna.

The Yamuna is a sacred river and flows from the Himalayas and passes through Gokul, which has special significance for the Hindus, as Shri Krishna spent the early years of his life there. The river is worshipped as a hindu goddess called Yamunaji. The Yamuna river has been the location for many religious events, one of which is associated with Lord Krishna. Around 5000 years ago Lord Krishna was born in Mathura. On the night of his birth his father carried him in a basket across the river to protect him from danger. Yamunaji parted the river to allow them to cross safely. This is one of the many ospicuous events which occurred here. For this and many other reasons people all over the world visit the Yamuna river.

The Yamuna river starts in the Himalayas, where it is at its purest form and descends through big cities such as Delhi before reaching Gokul. As the population increases in India, more waste/sewage is produced and largely deposited in the river as it flows through Delhi. Dams have also been built over the years resulting stagnant sewage river water. As you can imagine the water is really polluted by the time it reaches Gokul.

A priest who lives in Gokul has started a project to clean the river. A piping system is to be introduced to divert the sewage, clean and purify it so it can be used locally by farms. This will in turn provide clean water for the local people, increase farming livestock and restore the Yumuna river to it's purest form. Unfortunately this project is not government funded so money is needed to complete this good work.

Thank you for finding the time to read this and I hope you find it in your heart to make a donation.